Tell
me you don't recognize this: "Well, last year was a total fiasco, but next year
will be totally different!" "I failed at everything last year, but the coming
year I will have an absolute metamorphosis!"
I've
uttered and have heard these statements too many a time. They are so cliché,
and so wrong.
Now,
hold it. I do believe people can and will change, if only they wish to. A
person can change his or her life around in a second, and I dare not mock the
repentant.
The
issue I take with these statements is with the first half of each one:
"Last year was a failure. I failed last year. I was a loser…"
How can you discard a year
like that?No,
you weren't! That is so not true! You are so wrong! How can you discard a year
like that? Weren't there so many good things you did, wonderful times you
experienced, and many moments of commendable self-growth?
Regardless
of how many unpleasant incidents occurred in your life in the last 12 months – whether
a divorce, the death of a loved one, a job loss, the pain of estranged
children, or other personal challenges – there were likely still many positive
moments.
Did
you not give charity?
Did
you not contribute to the building of a relationship?
Did
you not celebrate others' happiness with them, and mourn for your fellow's pain?
Did
you never smile?
Did
you not see the hand of G‑d guiding your steps?
The
attitude of "last year was bad …" is wrong, a lie.
But
worse, it guarantees another "failure" for the year to come. The logic is
simple: If you were unable to see how much you accomplished last year, how many
blessings you accumulated, what are the chances you will be aware of your
growth, and the positive events coming your way during the year to come?
In
summary: When summing up the year behind us, let us accept the year for what it
was: a year of blessing for which we are grateful, of admirable growth of which
we are proud, and of mistakes and hardships from which we grew. All in all it
was a good year, thank G‑d.
And
G‑d willing, next year will be even better.
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